HAMILTON – Colgate's dreams of an undefeated home season vanished in the final 22 minutes here Saturday.
 
The Raiders led Lafayette 16-0 midway in the third quarter before the Leopards stormed back for a 19-16 surprise. Lafayette's Thomas Martin kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired to hand Colgate its first loss of the season on Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium.
 
Colgate (4-6, 2-2 Patriot) built its advantage on James Holland's first collegiate touchdown and three field goals from Jonah Bowman. The sophomore placekicker improved his season total to 14 field goals, breaking the previous program mark of 13 set by Lane Schwarzberg in 2002.
 
Schwarzberg was 13-of-17 that year to also set Colgate's record for best field goal percentage at 76.5. Bowman this season stands at 93.3 percent on 14-of-15.
 

Colgate's defense held Lafayette scoreless in the first half and the Raiders led 13-0 despite committing four turnovers. But it was Lafayette's defense that switched the momentum down the stretch. After Colgate went ahead 16-0, the Raiders were forced to punt on their final seven possessions.
 
Vinny Russo led Colgate with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops. Mike Armiento and Kyle Diener added eight apiece, while Anto Almasian contributed a career-high seven tackles and two pass deflections.
 
Colgate visits Lehigh next Saturday in a 12:30 p.m. kickoff.
 
Bottom Line
• Lafayette 19, Colgate 16

Won-Lost Records
• Colgate drops to 4-6 overall and 2-2 in the Patriot League.
• Lafayette is now 4-6 and 2-3.
 

Facts & Figures
• Statistics in the game were a close as the score. Lafayette led 17-15 in first downs, but the Raiders had ball possession for 32:41 to Lafayette's 27:19. Total yardage favored Lafayette, 307-272.
• Colgate's rushing defense turned in a season-best performance, allowing just 21 yards on 27 attempts. The 307 total yards allowed was the third-fewest (Georgetown 185, Cornell 271).
• Colgate entered today's game leading the Patriot League and ranking seventh nationally in fewest turnovers with eight. But the Raiders were stung with a 4-1 turnover deficit Saturday, in addition to having a punt blocked and another partially deflected.
• James Holland scored his first career touchdown on a 3-yard run that made it 10-0 midway in the second quarter. Raider rushing totals showed Demetrius Russell with 64 yards, John Wilkins 36, Holland 31, Bret Mooney 24 and Jams Travellin 14.
• Kris Kent set up Colgate's lone touchdown with an interception and nifty 43-yard return. The pick was huge because it happened one play after a Colgate fumble handed Lafayette possession inside Raider territory in a 3-0 game. Kent's return put the Raiders in business at the Lafayette 21 and the Raiders scored six plays later.
• Kent's only previous collegiate interception came two years ago in a 65-41 win over Lafayette.

• Lafayette reserve quarterback Blake Searfoss came off the bench and completed 29-of-46 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. He took over after starter Drew Reed was injured on a sack by Colgate's Victor Steffen and Pat Afriyie.
• Searfoss drove the Leopards 62 yards on the final drive to set up the winning field goal. The big play was a third-and-8 completion to Justin Adams for 37 yards to the Colgate 25. Thomas Martin booted his 31-yard field goal just three plays later as time expired.
• Lafayette got back in the game with 16 points on two drives in a 5:58 span of the third quarter. Searfoss hit Mike Duncan for 13 yards with 6:18 left and then Brian Keller for 14 yards just 20 seconds before the end of the period for the touchdowns. His two-point conversion passes went to Matt Mrazek and Tim Vangelas.
• Colgate's Nikko Armiento punted seven times for a 41.9-yard average.
• Lafayette hurt its cause with eight penalties for 50 yards. Colgate was penalized three times for 20 yards.
• Colgate sacked Lafayette quarterbacks four times for minus-26 yards in losses. Mike Armiento, Charles Cairnie and Steffen had solo sacks, with Steffen and Afriyie sharing the other one. Steffen leads the team with four sacks this season for minus-27 yards.
• Anto Almasian was one of 14 Colgate seniors honored before their final home game. Almasian then went out and posted a career high seven tackles and added two pass deflections.
 

Turning Point
• Colgate grabbed a 16-0 lead on Jonah Bowman's third field goal of the game with 7:48 left in the third quarter.
• But Lafayette's Ross Scheuerman returned the ensuing kickoff 36 yards to the Leopard 45, and the Lafayette offense had a spark. The Leopards drove 55 yards in seven plays, taking just 1:27 to cut the lead in half after the two-point conversion was good.
• Beginning with that drive, Lafayette outgained Colgate 227-46 and outscored the Raiders 19-0.
 
Kicking the Records Book
• Jonah Bowman is the new Lane Schwarzberg.
• Earlier this season, Bowman set the program season record for consecutive made field goals with nine. Schwarzberg held the previous mark with eight back in 2002.
• Bowman now holds the overall season mark for field goals with 14 in just 15 attempts, breaking – that's right – Schwarzberg's record of 13 in 2002.
• Next on the list is Schwarzberg's field goal percentage mark of 76.5 (13-of-17). Bowman is ahead of that pace, as well, sitting at 93.3 percent with two games remaining.
• Bowman since his only miss of the season Oct. 18 at Yale has made five consecutive field goals. He's also 21-of-22 on PATs and leads the team with 63 points.
 
From the Sources

• Colgate head coach Dan Hunt: (On the game) "All the credit to Lafayette. We knew we turned too many of those drives into field goals. We made that last field goal and it was still a two-score game. We just didn't do enough on offense in the second half after that field goal.
"We didn't take advantage of field position the whole game. We kicked too many field goals, turned the ball over too much and had blocked kicks – and that's all on me. I didn't have them ready to go and that will change.
"Hats off to Lafayette. They kept fighting and found a way to win. I feel bad because our defense played well. They've just got to make the play at the end of the game. We put them in bad situations all day and they fought hard.
"It's not effort out of our guys. It's just we weren't executing and we have to get better."
(On the defense's first-half effort) "I told the defense they did a nice job fighting off Lafayette and Colgate. Four turnovers and they didn't let Lafayette come close. We were getting pressure on the quarterback. It's fun to be on the sidelines watching that defense play. They play hard.
"Lafayette in the second half played fast and they found a little something that was working. But still, we battled. There were a lot of times we could have surrendered that lead and we didn't. I'm happy with how the defense played and executed.
"On the last drive, we put our eyes on the quarterback on a scramble and they found a big-gainer. The kid made the kick; credit to them."
(On Senior Day) "It was nice. These kids deserve credit. They have to do a lot for four years at a school like Colgate and I respect that and it should be recognized. I'm sure the team would have loved to give the seniors a win. I feel bad because it's a tough way to end their home career. But we'll go on and fight next week."
• Colgate placekicker Jonah Bowman: (On his day) "They weren't easy, but once again we had great execution from the snapper (Spencer Wallach) and holder (Ty Edmond). Everything seemed to work well. It's a shame we came up a little short. I was hoping we were going to get the game-winning field goal."
(On his season to date) "It's a great run. It shows our field-goal operation as a whole and the ability to execute together as one unit. It's great to be 14-of-15, knowing that Coach can depend on us to put three points on the board."
(On getting the record) "I had my eye on that one. Hopefully, we can keep it going and maintain a good percentage."
• Colgate nose tackle Anto Almasian: (On his game) "I played pretty well but the defense as a whole did a good job. We always talk about swarming to the ball and we really want to have a perfect game. We do what we can out there. It's a team effort."
(On Senior Day) "It motivated us. The opportunity to have your family out there with you before the game makes you put everything in perspective. You want to put everything on the line for yourself and your family, your teammates and coaches. It was a motivator."
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Saturday's crowd was 4,377.
• The Raiders honored their 14 seniors on the field before Saturday's kickoff.
 
Up Next
• Colgate takes on Lehigh (2-7, 1-3 Patriot) next Saturday in Bethlehem. Lehigh dropped a 27-20 decision this weekend at Holy Cross. Kickoff is 12:30 p.m.

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